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Making Games with Python & Pygame is a programming book that covers the Pygame game library for the Python programming language. Each chapter gives you the complete source code for a new game and teaches the programming concepts from these examples. The book is available under a Creative Commons license and can be downloaded in full for free from http://inventwithpython.com/pygame This book was written to be understandable by kids as young as 10 to 12 years old, although it is great for anyone of any age who has some familiarity with Python.

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Editorial Reviews

Making Games with Python & Pygame is a programming book that covers the Pygame game library for the Python programming language. Each chapter gives you the complete source code for a new game and teaches the programming concepts from these examples. The book is available under a Creative Commons license and can be downloaded in full for free from http://inventwithpython.com/pygame This book was written to be understandable by kids as young as 10 to 12 years old, although it is great for anyone of any age who has some familiarity with Python.

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You know. I really enjoy this book. Al writes a great book; it is an enjoyable read. This prompted me to buy his other book - Invent your Own Computer Games with Python. Buy them both - you won't be disappointed. The quality of the book (Paper, cover, typeset) is very readable and high-quality for a computer book, which makes it a good library addition. Also, you can get the digital edition free, and lots of code/etc from website - so very good value.

Al presents python and pygame concepts in context of re-creating several typical games - like tetris, memory, othello, wormy, etc. Overall excellent pygame book. Pairs well with the rasperry pi computer... hint hint, nudge nudge. ( The games featured in this book are installed on raspberry pi stock image.. )

Honestly it's more fun than slogging through the pygame website, and example code. Pygame and this book allow you to quickly put together some pretty 'low tech' fun and easy games.

Technically:The book quickly introduces you to core display concepts like surfaces, drawing shapes, colors, blitting graphics, and playing sounds. Then it guides you through 'event handling' concepts over the course of several games. You will be up and running quickly making your own games with sound/graphics/event handling.

So, really a good intro / even intermediate intro / to pygame, which perhaps doesn't touch on pygame's more advanced topics very deeply. Focuses well on game design concepts, but doesn't get extremely deep into every bell and whistle of pygame, which to me was a good thing, and kept the book understandable and concise. It is not a 'reference' type book, and advanced pygame topics were not included.

Al Sweigart is a genius and I love everything he stands for. This book is so easy to read and understand and he breaks it down even further to explain every line of coding in the book. If you don't understand coding after reading his work, you just won't ever understand.

I am a student in software development, and programming games is all I've wanted to do since the moment I choose this career path. This book helped me get a feel for pygame(the python game library) and was very helpful. I don't suggest buying this book however, because it's completely free at his website. I wish I would have known that, but having the book made it easier to study when I wasn't around my laptop. Awesome book though!

We need more books like this! Each example code is broken down line by line with reasons for inclusion in the program. I would not recommend this as a first time programming book because the level of code is a bit higher than that, but this would be great after an introductory book.

Al Sweigart is one of the best guys out there and anything that he touches is gold. Check out his YouTube presentations and follow the links to his other stuff. If anyone wishes to learn Python and programming, this is the guy to follow. All stuff and no fluff!